Police: Mom left toddler alone in cold car

Published 10:47 AM CST Jan 11, 2013

OMAHA, Neb. -

Police said an Omaha woman cited on suspicion of child neglect left her daughter in a car at the mall for at least half an hour.

According to a police report dated Jan. 3, an 18-year-old was walking to her car in the west parking lot of the Oakview Mall around 4:30 p.m. when she heard a car horn. She looked over toward the car to see a toddler alone inside.

The report said the child had also turned on the car's headlights and hazard lights.

Officers and a locksmith arrived at the scene at the same time the toddler's mother got back to the car, the report said.

The mother told officers that her 2-year-old was sleeping when she got to the mall, so she went in by herself to return an item. The report said the 21-year-old mother had three bags with her when she got back to the car.

Police noted that the child had 11 coins in her mouth when she was removed from the car.

According to the report, the outside temperature at the time of the incident was 21 degrees.

The mother was cited on suspicion of child neglect.

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